PONY Q&A

Q: What are the benefits of a bit with a lozenge over a normal French link?

Most horses and ponies seem to prefer bits with lozenges over normal French links. This is likely due to how the bit lies in the horse’s mouth when there is pressure on the reins. Without any contact on the rein, the plate in the middle of a French link sits quite comfortably against the tongue. However, when rein contact is taken up, the mouthpiece rotates and the plate digs into the tongue or upper palate of your horse or pony’s mouth. A typical response to the French link is, therefore, a sharp head toss when you do a half-halt or a downward transition. Alternatively, some riders report that their horse or pony becomes very heavy in a French link as they lean into the pain caused by the French link.

Mouthpiece designs with a lozenge offer a much more comfortable feel for your pony. As the mouthpiece rotates under rein tension, the smooth lozenge acts on the tongue as opposed to the narrow edge of the French link. This spreads the pressure over a wider area making the horse more comfortable. Many riders say that this type of bit encourages their pony to take the weight through the rein and accept the bit, rather than fighting against it.

Q: My pony never seems to drink enough water. I already soak his hay and add water to his feed but I’ve been advised to try a mash as well. Should this replace his usual concentrate feed?

Ponies are generally very good at regulating their own water balance and, while this can go awry when away from the yard, they should drink enough at home provided management is consistent. Having said this, with winter coming it is always worth making sure you are monitoring and maintaining your pony’s water intake. With an increase in colic at this time of year, you want to ensure your pony is taking in the fluid he requires.

All ponies gain some water from their grazing and feed. For example, hay contains 15% water, while grass can contain up to 80%. By soaking his hay, as you are doing, you’ll add further moisture content, reducing his need to drink water from his bucket.

Bucket rations should always be fed at least damp, to minimize the risk of your pony inhaling his feed, and there is a lot to be said for adding even more water to the feed to keep him hydrated, just as you are doing.

To stimulate drinking you can also add salt to his food, and he should have access to a salt lick 24/7. Most compound feeds contain approximately 1% salt, but others like sugar beet and cereals don’t contain any, so make sure your pony is getting enough salt.

Outside of adding salt (and on top of what you are already doing), feeding mash is probably the next best way to increase water intake and, depending on the rest of your pony’s diet, will reduce the total amount of food he needs. The amount of unsoaked mash you feed will normally replace the same dry weight of a comparable concentrate feed. The easiest way to feed a mash is to add one with no vitamins or trace elements to either a complete balancer or supplement. This way, your pony’s micronutrient requirements are met (by the balancer or supplement) but not exceeded. Keep in mind that there are also conditioning and low-calories mashes available on the market, so make sure you know what you are buying when choosing for your pony.

If your pony is on a concentrate feed and you are uncertain how to add the mash, speak to your equine nutritionist and they will be able to assist you.

TOP TIP

Always check how long you need to soak a mash for and how much water is required. Follow the instructions on the bag, because feeding mashes that aren’t fully soaked can cause digestive issues like colic.